United Flight UA1206 diverted Baltimore

United Airlines Flight UA1206, scheduled to fly from Tampa to Newark, diverted to Baltimore before reaching Newark on May 19, according to flight-tracking data reviewed on Thursday. FlightStats and Airportia both showed the flight operating first from Tampa International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and then onward to Newark Liberty International Airport. Travel And Tour World reported the flight made an emergency landing in Baltimore and said no injuries were reported. Flight-tracking records reviewed Thursday did not state the reason for the diversion. Newark has been operating under FAA limits on scheduled operations since 2025, and FAA and airport advisories have continued to warn of delays tied to congestion and operational constraints. ### Which flight was involved, and where did it go? UA1206 was listed by FlightStats and Airportia as a United Airlines service scheduled to depart Tampa at 5:06 p.m. Eastern time and arrive in Newark at 8:00 p.m. on May 19. Instead, the records showed the aircraft operating into Baltimore first and then departing Baltimore for Newark later that night. FlightStats showed the Baltimore-to-Newark segment departing at 9:57 p.m. and arriving at 11:49 p.m., with the overall service marked as arriving 3 hours and 49 minutes behind schedule. Airportia separately listed a Baltimore departure around 11 p.m. and a Newark arrival at 11:33 p.m., reflecting the same rerouting even though the timestamps differed across providers. (flightstats.com) ### Was this the same aircraft the preliminary report described? FlightStats identified UA1206’s equipment code as “7M9,” which it described as a Boeing 737 MAX 9 passenger aircraft. A separate flight-status site also listed UA1206 as a Boeing 737 MAX 9 on the Tampa-Newark route. Travel And Tour World’s May 20 report also described the aircraft as a Boeing 737 MAX 9 and said the diversion occurred during heavy Newark-bound congestion. (flightstats.com) The publication said the flight made an emergency landing in Baltimore and that no injuries were reported. ### Do the public records say why Baltimore was used? (flightstats.com) United’s public flight-status page says operational conditions can change quickly and affect scheduled service, but the page reviewed Thursday did not provide a route-specific explanation for UA1206’s diversion. The airline’s travel-alert page also says airport-specific disruptions can affect service to and from certain airports. (flightstats.com) The available flight-tracking records likewise did not include a cause such as a mechanical problem, medical event or weather emergency. Travel And Tour World linked the episode to congestion affecting Newark-bound traffic, but Reuters could not independently verify a carrier or FAA statement naming the cause. (united.com) ### How disrupted was Newark around that time? The FAA has kept limits on scheduled arrivals and departures at Newark in place through October 24, 2026, according to its statements and a Federal Register notice. The agency said those limits were intended to reduce delays and make airport operations more efficient. FAA and airport advisories reviewed Thursday continued to flag operational constraints and possible delay programs affecting New York-area traffic flows. (flightstats.com) A third-party disruption tracker also reported hundreds of delayed or canceled Newark flights on May 20, though that count was not independently verified by Reuters. ### What can passengers verify next? United directs travelers to its flight-status page and app for route-specific updates, check-in information and notifications tied to changing operations. (faa.gov) The airline says customers can also add an email to a reservation to receive updates. The FAA’s Newark statements page and the airport’s alerts page remain the clearest public sources for broader operating restrictions and delay advisories as Newark traffic continues under FAA limits through October 24, 2026. (nasstatus.faa.gov) (faa.gov) (united.com)